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MOVABLE SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1925 nwmrok H 0 ward J ATTOR/VEK Fatented ll ian l2,

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HOWARD J. MURRAY, OF NEW YORK, N ER, ASSIGNOR TO R. M. COMPANY, INC., OF EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

. trovannn sit-mar. DEVICE.

Application filed Januaryf, 1925. Serial No. 942% The invention relates to a signalling device designed for use in any situation where warning signals are to be conveyed visuallyandspecifically the invention is designed to be used on automotive vehicles for the purpose of indicating or preindicating a movement of the vehicle to the right or left or to indicate some other movement of the vehicle or to indicate the intent of the operator to effect such a movement.

. The primary object of the invention is to provide a direction indicating signal tor use on a vehicle which signal can be actuated selectively to indicate the direction desired,

tained b causin a li 'ht. or a series of li hts to move or to an ear to move in the d1rec-.

tionindicated and otherwise to take advantage of the physiological effect on the person being warned of an object or light moving in the range or vision of such person for the purpose of simultaneously attracting his attention andglving him the proper informa tion. V

Various. other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of device embodying my invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed. 7 I In the accompanying drawing:

T he figure is a view largely diagramn'iatic,

illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinventiontogether with assoc ated electric connections organlzed to form the several electric controls necessary to meet the several functions required when the invention is embodied'in a form for use as a signal system or". an automotive vehicle.

In the drawings it will be understood that the showing therein disclosed is illustrated in connection with an automotive vehicle certain control elements of which are shown diagrammatically. There is disclosed for instance a service brake 10 a control lever 11 for effecting the change speed combination in the transmission and there is disclosed a steering wheel 12 all of conventional design and function.

There is also disclosed in their proper position on the vehicle a rear signal lamp 13, a

similar front signal lamp 14 and a pilot signal lamp 15 preferably positioned on the dash or in some other position visible to the operator manipulating the steering wheel 12.

The lamps are similar in that they each contain a plurality of lights herein shown to be seven in number, lettered consecutively fromone to seven from left to right in the diagrammatic drawing. The lights are dis posed in a straight line to form a set which extends transversely of the vehicle and is so disposed that the lights forming the front signal lamp 14 are visibleto the tratl'ic officer or tot-he driver of another vehicle in advance of the vehicle herein disclosed; the lights forming the rear signal lamp 13 are similarly visible to a person in rear of the vehicle and the lights forming the pilot lamp 15 are disposed so as to be facing the operator of the vehicle equipped with the signal device. The similarly positioned lights of each lamp are electrically connected to form a plurality of light circuits, one for each similarly numbered light. For instance, the lights numberedl are connected by means of conductor 16 and the succeedingly numbered lights are similarly connected respectively by conductors l7, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. The lamp 14 is grounded at 23; the lamp 13 at 24:; and the lamp 15 at 25; in each case the'groundings preferably being on the frame of the vehicle.

Each of the light connecting conductors are connected to two fixed contacts, for instance, conductor 16, connecting the lights numbored 1 1s connected by means of conductor 26 with the fixed contacts 1 and 1". Similarly the other numbered light connecting conductors 17, 18, 19 20, 21' and are connected' to a pair of fixed contacts having the same numerical designationas its corresponding light and one lettered a and the other b One contact from each light circuit forms a set'of fixed contacts disposed in a circle and designated with a as an index. The other contacts from each light circuit are similarly arranged in a circle to form a setlett-ered b and concentrically disposed Y Disposed in the transmission casing andin [positionto be actuated by the shift lever 11 when making a gear change combination to cause the vehicle to move back-wards 'ls-a three-pointcirciut closer d6. Current s supplied to the movable element 47 i" the switch through atconductor leading from the mo-V tor supply lead 29, so that the circuit closer 46 may be supplied independent of the ig nition. The movable element at? designed to be moved by the lever 11 into pos tion to supply currentto the motor andto bothoi thewipingfcontacts and 81.1 Forthis purpose one of the pomtsA-Qas connected by means of conductor wit-l'rconductor 4-2 for cuit through the motor, thus causing it to rotate, and at the same time will supply current to both the wiping contacts 30 and 31. Thiswill causea waving of li ht backand forth across the line of lights in each of the lamps thus indicating a backing movement oi illQVBlllClG. r I

In the device illustrated it is proposed to use one of these signal lights, 111 this instance, the middle light No. i, as a constantly ignited .1 reference light, such as the tail light, but which will automatically be extinguished -when the line of lights function as asignal light, in which case the No. 4 light functions in its position as one of the signal lights. As it is a usual practlce to apply the brake when making a turn to the right or left, or when about to back, it is herein su gested that the normally lit tail light be GXElllgtllSlleLl auto- A N43,];

inatically by the mo ement oi the b1 ake, into its operativelybraking position; For this purpose the brake 1.0 15 shown to control the movable element of a three-point circuit closer 56 of which the middle point 57 is constantly connected by means of a conductor 58 with the main lead 29 through a manually actuated signal switch 59 mounted on the switch-board In its normal inoperative position the contact-55 cl! the circuit between point 57 and a point 60 whichconnects by means of a lead 51 with the light circuit connecting wire 19, leading to the several lights numbered 4; in the diiiferent' lamps. From thls construction it will be understood that with the brake in itsnormal inoperative of the reference lights numbered 4:. This will mean ,that-atall'times while the signal system is active the pilot light 4: in front of i the operatorjwill be active and the operator will be thus advised that the signal system is'inworking order. 1

When the brake is depressed towards its operative position it will move the shiftable contact55out of engagement with the contact (i0 and into engagement with the third contact This third contact is connected by means of conductor 63 which in turn is connected'by means of by-path lead (3% with r the motor lead 4% and also leads to a fixed brush 65fengag1ng a commutator ring 66 car rled by the shaft of the motor 26. The cominutatorring is formed of insulat material for the major portion of its cii'cunn ferent'ial length. lhe remaining portion'is formed of a conducting strip 6'? connected electrically to-the wiper 30 and so disposed that when the wiper 30 is in engagement with the contact numbered at, current will be supplied thereto through the contact and thus cause all the No. 4 lights to flash with each rotation of the wiper.

From this constructionit will be understood that depressing the brake will causev the lights No. 4 to flash periodically'and continuously as long as the brake is in operative position.

It is suggested that the light No. 4 be utilized as a light for illuminatingsigns such .as the license plate. Further the entire set of lights can be utilizedwhen operating as a direction signal or as a backing signal to intensely illuminate the license plate and thus presenting a larger area by reflection from the sign than would be possible with the direct light from the lamps themselves. The operator of a following car thus has his attention forcibly attracted to the increased illumination of the rear license plate on the vehicle ahead. In case of the failure of the signal system it is herein suggested that there be employed a supplementary sign light 68 for illuminating the license plate. This sign light will be supplied by a lead 69' from the battery 27 and in turn controlled by a sign light'switch 70. By this'construction it will be possible when the switch 70 is on to use the light 68 as a parking light, or as a license illuminating light or as a tail light when the ignition switch 36 and when the signal switch 59'is off.

Having thus described my inventioinl claim 1. In a vehicle, the combination with the service brake, the steering wheel and the change speed lever of the vehicle. of a signal device including a plurality of lights arranged in line to form a set, and means controlled' by the turning movement of the steering wheel in one or the other direction for causing said light to flash in succession in the direction of turning, and controlled by the change speed lever 'for causing said lights to flash in succession simultaneously in both directions to indicate a'bacl ing movement of the vehicle and controlled by the brake for causing one ot'said lights toflash repeatedly to indicate that the vehicle is slowing down toa stop.

7 2. In asigiial device, the combination of means form ng a plurality of c1rcuits,eacl including a light'and two ilXGCl contacts, said lights being arranged inline to form a signal, one of said two contacts of each circuit disposed in a circle of similar contacts and the other contact of each circuit disposed in another circle of such contacts, and a motor v a-rovided with two wi iin contacts one for each circle of contacts, said wiping contacts and said fixedcontacts being organized in electricallyreversed order that one wiping contact will cause the lights to flash along said line from right to iei't and the other wiping contact will cause the lights to'fiash alon said line from left to ri ht. and con I 23 i I) trol means for selectively supplying electric energy to either one-or both of said wipers and for simultaneously energizing said motor.

' 3; In a signal device, the combination of means forming a plurality of circuits, each including a light and two lined contacts, said .tact will cause the lights to flash along line from right to leit and the other wiping lights being arranged in line to form asignal, one 01 said two contacts of each circuit disposed in a circleot' similar contacts and the other contact of eachcircuit disposed in another circle of suchcontacts, a motorprovicle d with two wiping contacts, one foreach circle of contacts, said wiping contacts and said fixed contacts being organized in elect-ri'cally reversed order so that one wiping eon contactswill cause the lights'to flashalong said line from left to right and control means for selectively supplying electric energy to either one or both oi": said wipers.

4. In a signal device, the combination of means forming a plurality of light circu ts eachincluding a light-and two contacts, said li hts b'ein ai'ran ed in lmeto form a signal, one of said twocontacts of each light circuit arranged in a circle of similar contacts, the other contactsof each light circuit arranged in a concentric, circle of similar contacts, the contacts of each circle being in the same i'elative'ordei' oi position as theirassociated lights'and with the contact of: one end light diametrically disposedrelative to the contact of the other end light and a pa of wiping contacts,one'r"or each circle of contacts and control means for supplying electric energy selectively to said wiping contacts. r i

'- 5. In a vehicle, the combination with the steering wheel and the change speed lever of the vehicle,- of a signal device including a plurality of lights arranged in a straight line to form a set, constituting a direction signal which when flashing successively from end to end in one direction indicates an intent ofthe operator of the vehicle to drive in said direction and when flashing-successively from end I to end in the opposite direction indicates an intent'to tui'nin said opposite direction and ;means controlled the turninginovement trolled by the change speed lever forcausing all of S211(l lights to flash in succession one after the other simultaneously in both' directions' and to continue said successive fiashings as long as the lever is in position to cause the lights to flash; r v v V 6. In a vehicle signal system, the combinertion of a plurality of lights arranged in line to form a direction indicating signal, circuit and control means for causing thelights to intermittently flash successively from one end of the line to the other-to indicate direction of turnin additional circuit and con;

a? trol means, including a single one only'of the said lights whereby said single light only may be caused to flash intermittently upon depression of a control pedal of the vehiele,'and I still further circuit and control, means whereby the said single light o'nly may'be caused to burn continuouslywhen neither of the said other controls are in operation.

7. In a vehicle signalsystem, the con'il' ination of a plurality oflights arranged inline to form a direction indicating signal, con-' tactor and circuit means for causing'the lights to flash in one direction, other contactor and circuit means for causing the lights to flash in the opposite direction, a single motor always turning in the same direction -operatively connected to both said c'ontactormeans, additional circuit means including a control operativelyconnected to the vehicle steering wheel for sele'ctingbetween the said con-i,

"actors and controlling the'direction of successive'l'lashing through the lights and cans ing all ofcsaid lights to flash in succession one after the otherin the direction of turning,

said successive fiashings in either direction continuing throughout the tillle tllfi steering wheel is turned from its normal forward dri.V-- I ing position. V Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of December, -D. 192-1 HOWARD J. MURRAY." 

